I’ve been thinking a lot lately about one of the most overlooked opportunities in the energy transition: supermarket cold stores. These facilities already consume large amounts of electricity, require reliable power for refrigeration, and often have sizable roof and yard spaces. What if they could become profit-making battery hubs by integrating second-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries? In...
When I first started exploring renewable solutions for events, the idea of a pop-up solar charging hub powering an...
I often get asked how to make plumbing and electrical joints that last without resorting to invasive repairs or costly...
I’ve had conversations with dozens of homeowners, installers and energy traders about this exact question: can a...
Retrofitting a 1930s semi for heat pumps and airtightness is one of those projects that feels equal parts exciting and...
I’ve watched second‑life EV batteries move from a niche concept to a practical option for community microgrids, and...
I’ve worked with landlords, tenants and energy professionals long enough to know that pushing for energy-efficient...
I’ve had conversations with dozens of homeowners, installers and energy traders about this exact question: can a Tesla Powerwall owner in the UK legally export stored power back to the grid and actually earn money from it? The short answer is yes — but with important caveats. In this piece...
Read more... →
Retrofitting a 1930s semi for heat pumps and airtightness is one of those projects that feels equal parts exciting and nerve-wracking. I’ve worked through a few of these homes, and what I’ve learned is that you can dramatically improve comfort and efficiency without turning the house into a...
Read more... →
I’ve watched second‑life EV batteries move from a niche concept to a practical option for community microgrids, and I’m still struck by how many questions remain about real savings—and who actually pays when things go wrong. In this piece I want to walk you through the economics, the...
Read more... →
I’ve worked with landlords, tenants and energy professionals long enough to know that pushing for energy-efficient retrofits isn’t just good for the planet — it makes financial and reputational sense. Whether you own a single buy-to-let or manage a small portfolio, knowing which clauses to...
Read more... →
I often get asked whether an achat de véhicule utilitaire par une SCI is a sensible move. The question sits at the intersection of company law, tax strategy, and practical fleet management — and it's particularly relevant for property-owning structures like a Société Civile Immobilière (SCI)...
Read more... →
When I first started exploring the potential of second-life EV batteries for community energy projects, I imagined quiet streets powered during peak hours by batteries that once propelled electric cars. That vision turned into a practical project idea: a street-level microgrid combining rooftop...
Read more... →
I often get asked by festival organisers and event operators how to provide rapid EV charging on-site without relying on grid upgrades. Over the past few years I've helped design several pop-up charging hubs powered primarily by local solar and battery storage. In this article I walk you through...
Read more... →
I get asked a lot whether a Nissan Leaf or a Tesla can reliably power a home for a week. It's a tempting idea: your car doubles as a giant battery, keeping lights on, refrigerators running, and maybe even a small heater humming while the grid is down — or allowing you to go off-grid for a short...
Read more... →
I recently helped a neighbour replace an ageing gas boiler with an air-source heat pump. Watching the first winter bills come through, and sitting through the commissioning day with the installer, I realised how many hidden costs and mistakes can turn what should be a smart, efficient upgrade into...
Read more... →
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how home batteries fit into real people’s lives — not just as shiny gadgets, but as practical tools during extreme events like consecutive winter blackouts. If you’re asking, "Can a Tesla Powerwall save me money during long, repeated winter outages?"...
Read more... →